Composite lath.



A. P. WHITE COMPOSITE LATH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l0. I9I4.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. P. WHITE.4 COMPOSITE LATH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. lo. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 20,

.f/e'yerz/ef a dii titl

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

ALEXANDER P. WHITE, 0F @AU-@WELL NEW JERSEY.

COMPSTE LA'IH.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ALEXANDER P. WiiiTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful llmprovements in Composite lhaths, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to composite building material used chiefly as lathing to carry plaster for walls and ceilings, and its object is tc provide an improved lathing of this nature possessing improved structural and functional characteristics which materially add to the value and utility thereof.

A special object of the invention is to provide a composite lath construction having novel -means for strengthening the product,

and also imparting thereto improved facility for absorbing the moisture whereby the body of the lath is held to proper form and condition during the setting of the plaster, and obviating weakening or breaking thereof in spots during that stage.

'llo that end the invention is especially4 adaptable to composite lathing having metallic wall-holding rods carried by a sup-v porting body of paper or equivalent brous substance in sheet form, the metallic rods being fastened to the studding or the wall furring and the plaster spread over the composite material, the metal members serving to sustain the load. ln alathing of this construction, there is always, however, a tendency present in the material to. absorb moisture, and'when the absorption is excessive it is liable to cause irregularities which manifest themselves by undulations on the plaster surface. rfhis effect is particularly objectionable when the lath is used to hold plaster on ceilings because the weight of the plaster is liable to cause weakness or break in spots. Nevertheless, the capacity of the lath to absorb moisture is however, apart from the objection noted, a desirable feature in that it facilitates the union or combination between the body of plaster and the1 lath. lt is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a structure which shall more completely assimilate the moisture taken up thereby from the plaster mass, while at the same time adding other new and desirable features.

With these and other objectsv in view which will more readily appear as the nature of thev invention is better understood, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed September 10, 1914. Serial No. teilw.

same consists in the novel construction, cornbination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. I

p To attain the objects above indicated,the invention consists of certain novel structural combinations hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed, and 'in order to illustrate the essential features thereof certain practical embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved lathing illustrative of a method of making the same, and clearly exposing the several elements .embodied therein, this view also being illustrative of the use of a threadreinforcement consisting of spun threads, not woven, and arranged in close parallel order as one layer of the product..

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the thread-reinforcement as consisting of a coarse woven fabric such as cheese cloth or burlap.

Fig. 3 is an edge view showing the several elements of the product in their preferred 'relative positions, but separated as they would appear before consolidation.

Fig. 4f is a cross sectional view of a completed form of the product embodying the arrangement of elements shown in Fig. 3, and illustrating a portion of a wall or ceiling applied thereto.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a singleply form of the invention, wherein a single sheet of paper is employed to carry the metal rods, the viewv also illustrating the perforated characteristic of the lathing for plaster keying purposes.A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the I,form of lathing shown in Fig. 5 in its applied position for holding the plaster on the ceiling.

Fig. 7' is a detail perspective view illustrating a modification that may be resorted to as to the form of the metallic elements or members of the article.

Similiar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures of the drawings.

The primary elements of the new material are a fibrous supporting body, metallic wall-holding members carried thereby, and a fibrous thread-reinforcement ,for said body. 4These elements are consolidated to provide a new form ,of lathing having structural characte 'stics which enable it to more reinforcement. This reinforcement consists of threads or strings of vegetable fibers, as

for example cotton, or jute, arranged to provide one of the layers of the composite material, and these threads may be spun threads unwoven or woven into a fabric. When the Woven form of the thread-reinforcement is selected, the same preferably consists of commercial cheese cloth, burlap, or equivalent material of comparatively coarse mesh which will provide a net or network of fibrous threads or strings.

For illustrative purposes, reference is now made to the drawings illustrating certain embodiments of the invention. In these drawings, the reference letter a designates the fibrous supporting body, b the metallic holding members, and c the fibrous thread-reinforcement. In explanation of one method that may be employed in making the new article, I preferably select paper, in the form of sheets of suitable thickness and porosity, to form the fibrous supporting body. Between two of these sheets of paper are placed a layer of the threadreinforcement andalso the metallic members b consisting preferably of metal rods of suitable gage extending from one end of the paper sheet to the other and usually arranged from three to five inches apart, these metal members or rods constituting the main holding and sustaining means for the body of plaster when the same hardens and sets. The paper sheets are covered with a suitable adhesive such as silicate of soda, and the several assembled elements when in position are subjected to heavy pressure with the result of causing the paper sheets to combine, forming a thicker sheet or body reinforced by the fibrous thread-reinforcement, woven or'unwoven, and carrying the metallic plaster holding members.

Each of the primary elements referred to has a special function which will be explained. It has been found that when lathing is made of paper, there is sometimes a tendency, especially when used on ceilings, for the paper body to sag or break when the plaster is thin. The cheese cloth, or equivalent thread-reinforcement, not only performs the function of a definte reinforcement to strengthen thematerial, but also has the desirable characteristic of making the product more rigid by preventing this sagging or breaking. Furthermore, the paper, if not thoroughly protected against moisture, will have a tendency to swell and warp by coming into contact with the moisture, but the fibrous threads, when mistened or Wet, will on the contrary shrink or shorten, with the result of producing a taut effect when the moist plaster body is applied to the lathing. The fibrous threads will remain in this condition until theplaster dries out, but when that stage is reached the plaster is set`and has become rigidly attached to the metallic holding members or rods which are the permanent wall-holding members. Accordingly, the fibrous threads have the definite function of strengthening the lath and also keeping it to the form by reason of exercising the mechanical action of shrinking when moistened and thereby causing the threads to tighten and hold the lath surface flat thus permitting the plaster to dry with a level surface.

In the handling of paper lath products, the edges are necessarily exposed and liable to be broken during transportation, and in the rough handling thereof incident to their use. From these causes, the material is often cracked, and cracks admit moisture into the body causing the results already mentioned. Theedges are especially liable to be cracked causing particles to fall off, and it is therefore desirable to reinforce the edges with the novel fibrous thread-reinforcement. This reinforcement, when in the form of cheese cloth, is especially effective as a means to hold broken portions of the lathing, in the body or at the edges, in placeyuntil the plaster is applied. After the plaster is once in position, the cracks become sealed and the Wall structure is not affected thereby.

By way of further emphasizing the practical importance of the fibrous thread-reinforcement as a novel element in composite lath construction, several special smbodi'- ments of the product will now be referred to. First, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, I prefer to place the fibrous thread-reinforcement in either the form shown in Figs. 1 or 2) between the paper body sheets a and back of the metallic holding members, assuming that the surface on which the plaster is applied is the front face of the lathing. The reason for thus placin the thread-reinforcement, or cloth materia is that it is then in a better position to throw the strain of the Weight of the plaster onto the metal, because being behind the metal it cannot be pulled away from the metal. This same relation of the paper body, metallic members and the thread-reinforcement may be embodied in other forms of construction. For instance, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a single paper sheeta may be employed, on one face of which is fastened the thread-reinforcement or cheese cloth b, while the metallic members or rods c are placed upon the thread-reinforcement or cheese cloth and temporarily held in position by means of clenched staples or equivalent fastening means l. In 130,A

this form of the product, the metal rods are exposed directly upon the first side of the paper body carrying the fibrous reinforce ment, and the latter in this instance also supports the plaster 'between the metal and the paper and throws the strain of the weight `of the plaster directly upon the metal.

product, the ribs will become embedded in in the wall body, as indicated in Figs. i and 6.

n Also a further feature of practical importance, in the manufacture of the article, is to break multiplicity of perforations 2 which serve the double purpose of making keys for the plaster and preventing the warping of the paper, and in order to bring the wall or ceiling body into closer or more intimate connection with the metallic holding members therefor, a number of the key openings are disposed adjacent the said members. 'lhis arrangement permits the plaster to engage about the rods in substantially the manner suggested by the illustration of Figs. d and (i of the drawings. After perforating the body of the material in this or equivalent manner, it may be found desirable and preferable to coat the same with a waterproofing solution to more edectually protect the product about its marginal edges and the edges of the key openings therein, but for the purposes of the step may be employed or omitted without departing from the essential thought of the invention which resides in the novel combination, as specified, between the paper supporting body, the woven or unwoven thread-reinforcement therefor, and the metal or wall holding rods.

Reference has only been made generally to the manner of producing the new composite lathing, but it is obvious that it is not essential to observe any particular order of steps because it is immaterial to the pres ent invention what particular method of manufacture may be adapted so long as the cardinal features of the invention are preserved in the novel combination of a iibrous supporting body with metallic wall holding members and a fibrous thread-reinforcement, which latter reinforcement not only actually reinforces and strengthens the product throughout, but also renders it more flexible and assists in assimilating the moisture from the wet plaster, besides itself:

having a supporting vfunctin to assist in preliminarily holding the plaster until it has hardened and become set.

up the surface thereof with a yment present invention this From the foregoing, it is thought that the essential features of the invention will be fully understood, and while specic mention has' been made of cheese cloth and burlap, as a thread or cloth reinforcement available for the purposes of this invention. it will be understood that other materials or substances of the same nature may be utilized, and that while it is desirable to use these sub-A stances in a woven or knitted fabric form, the same can be incorporated, as already stated, in the form of threads or strings which are separate in parallel lines or arranged in crossing relation, either woven or unwoven, or in fact may be distributed in irregular or angular lines without departing from the principal thought of the invention which consists in the combination of a fibrous supporting body in sheet form, metallic wall holding members carried by said body and a fibrous thread reinforcement for said body, Furthermore, it will be obvious that instead of using the paper in the convenient sheet form and cementin together two separate sheets with the t read-reinforcment between them, the paper may be used in the plastic form and have the thread-reinforceincorporated therein before being worked into sheets. Also, with respect to the metallic elements of the article, these may be arranged in diderent ways without aecting the invention, for example as shown in 4Fig.. Z of the drawings.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the novel features of the invention will be readily understood without and that various changes in the use of ma*-` terials and their arrangement, such as fall within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advan-` for the plaster or equivalent material, a

'dexible brous body element carried with said members, and absorbent reinforcing threads adhesively united with the body element.

2. A building lath formed of composite material which comprises, in combination, a consolidation of metallic holding members for the plaster or equivalent material, a flexible fibrous body sheet carried with said members, and absorbent reinforcing threads adhesively united with the body element and disposed at one side of the metallic members.

3. A building lath formed of composite material which comprises, in combination, a consolidation of metallic holding members for the *plaster or equivalent material, a iexible fibrous body sheet carried with said metallic holding members, and absorbent reinforcing threads united with the ibrous sheet and lying at one side of and next to the metallic holding members.

4. A building lath formed of composite `material which comprises, in combinatlon, a

consolidation of metallic holding members for the plaster or equivalent material, a flexible fibrous body sheet carried with said metallic holding members, and absorbent reinforcing threads united with the ibrous sheet and lying at one side of and next to the metallic holding members, said elements being arranged to provide ribs projecting from the face of the structure.

5. A building lath formed of composite bers, and absorbent reinforcin material which comprises, in combination, a consolidation of metallic holding members for the plaster or equivalent material, a paper body sheet carried with said memthreads in the form of a network united wlth the paper sheet, and lying at one side of the metallic v members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER P. WHITE.

Witnesses:

C. N. FAWN, J. A. CLARKE. 

